The AI that could bring the dead back to live (and it could even help spot fake videos)

Google engineer Supasorn Suwajanakorn developed a tool which, fed with the right input, can create a realistic fake video that mimics the way a person talks by closely observing existing footage of their mouth and teeth to create the perfect lip-sync. It could be used to create videos of dead relatives - but also to create'deepfake' videos for nefarious purposes, he warned. Such technology could be used to create virtual versions of those who have passed - grandparents could be asked for advice; actors returned to the screen; great teachers give lessons, or authors read their works aloud, according to Suwajanakorn. 'Wouldn't it be great if you could ask our grandparents for advice and hear those comforting words, even if they're no longer with us?' he told the TED Conference in Vancouver earlier this year. However, he also revealed he has also developed a'Reality Defender' app to spot the deepfake videos created using the technology.